Re: Re: TB: Identification of tall bearded iris

Betty, I will second your suggestion. It has
been my experience that regardless how varied color, form, branching and a host
of other characteristics can be, the single most constant feature of a bearded
iris is in the exact pattern of haft marks. Your mention of the beard
hairs adds to this tool for confirming or discarding a suspected identification
of an unknown.

Those haft markings seem to be as consistent and
unique as fingerprints in a human.

The comparison of the many diploid--and early
tetraploid--amoenas, for example, can be extremely difficult. The
strategy you describe is a sure-fire way to say "yes" or "no" to a possible
name.

The problem is, just how certain is the
referenced iris's identity? I continue to hear stories of someone making
several attempts to secure a particular historic and end up with three or more
distinctly different clones. Which one is the authentic one?

From a number of comments made over the past few
years, I've gotten the impression that Rick Tasco and Roger Duncan at
Superstition Gardens and Phil Edinger are perhaps as reliable soures of
authentic stock or information as can be had. I'm sure there are others members
of this list who could name others who from their experience are
similarly reliable.

I am sure most of the suppliers of historics have
made considerable effort to authenticate the identities of their
stock. At least I should hope so!